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PEHDZEH KI/WRIGLEY - Even with an enhanced RCMP presence the community of Wrigley will not be receiving a permanent nurse, according to the head of the Dehcho Health and Social Services.

Having a permanent nursing position in Wrigley doesn't hinge on the RCMP, said Kathy Tsetso, the chief executive officer of Dehcho Health and Social Services.

"We never made a commitment they would have nursing if they got RCMP," Tsetso said.

The Fort Simpson RCMP detachment is committed to placing two RCMP officers in Wrigley for up to three days a week. Last week Chief Darcy E. Moses of the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation said the community pushed for the RCMP in part because they believed it will allow a nurse to be stationed in Wrigley.

Soon after his election as chief in February 2007, Moses said he was told by health officials that Wrigley couldn't have a nurse unless there are RCMP in the community.

Moses said a nurse is a priority for the community, which is why it worked to get the RCMP in place.

The chief said he's frustrated because officials are now saying there isn't enough funding for a nurse and Wrigley isn't large enough to warrant one.

Tsetso said the message a nurse and the RCMP were linked didn't come from the board.

"I'm not sure where he got that message," said Tsetso.

The health board follows an integrated service delivery framework that's used across the territory. The framework, which is based on population, assigns two nurses to a population of 250 or more.

According to the NWT Bureau of Statistics Wrigley had a population of 170 people in 2007. According to its medical charts, the health department counts approximately 107 people. Either way the population is under 250 people, said Testso.

Despite its size Wrigley is receiving more services than other communities with comparable populations, she said.

A nurse goes to Wrigley three days or more a month and a physician goes once a month. Nahanni Butte, which has 129 people according to 2007 statistics, only receives one nurse visit a month.

Wrigley also has more health staff in the community, said Tsetso. Wrigley has a full-time community health representative, a home support worker, a half-time community health worker and a janitor for the health centre.

In Nahanni Butte there is only one half-time community health worker and the band has a contract with the health board for home support services.

Wrigley's enhanced services are the result of the health board's attempt to meet the community's desire for a full-time nurse, said Tsetso.

"We understand what they want and we're trying to look at different options to support that," she said.

Tsetso said that in general Dehcho Health and Social Services is looking at changes throughout its system that could lead to increased services to Wrigley but no commitments can be made at this time. Any changes would be partially based on the retention and recruitment of staff, she said.

Wrigley has a historical basis for its request for a nurse. The position was filled in the community until approximately 1997 when the nurse was threatened and left out of fear for personal safety, said Tsetso.

There were also earlier incidents where nurses were threatened and left the community.

At that point the decision was made that Wrigley could be better served from Fort Simpson without affecting the quality of care, said Tsetso.

"We worked with the community and council at the time," she said.

Chief Darcy E. Moses was travelling and unavailable to comment further by press time.